THEFT AND FORGERY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 13024, 1 May 1940, Page 4

THEFT AND FORGERY

ACCUSED COMMITTED UOK TRIAL AT SURREY IE COURT

VIGILANTE OF BANK OFFICIALS Remanded from Monday. Frederick Anthony Wimar McDonald, a farm labourer aged -0, of Omokoroa. appeared before Messrs. G. |L Ollard and J. Harvey J.P’s.. in the Tanrangti Police Court yesterday, on four charges involving the theft of two cheques, forgery and uttering and a further charge of forgery. The defendant pleaded not guilty and was undefended. Evidence was given by John Borrows. from whom the cheques were stolen, to the effect that he had known the accused for a period ot nearly two years, and particularly so during the' last two months, when McDonald had done various odd jobs around the shop. Borrows stated that one of the jobs undertaken was the banking of the cash each day, and he was not aware of any irregularity until inquiries were made by the bank manager concerning the cashing of the cheque, when he discovered that two blank forms were missing from the back of his cheque book. He also stated that the signature on the forged cheque was something similar to his own. Further evidence was given by Alister Hetherington, bank teller, who stated that the accused had paid in for Mr. Borrows, and returned in a few moments and cashed a cheque signed by McEwen and Borrows for £*3,' He stated that the first query was made by the manager when the cheques were being called over later in the day, it being unusual for the firm to withdraw cash on a cheque. Further attention was drawn when it was discovered that the number of the cheque was not in sequence with others presented by the firm.

He referred to his experience in dealing with cheques and signatures, and informed the Bench, that he considered the signature on the cheque a good imitation. Evidence of arrest and identification of the defendant by the cashier,- was given by Constable J. Watt, who stated that on a search of the accused’s clothing,,the second cheque was found. Constable Watt informed the court that the defendant denied all knowlege of the presence of the cheque. McDonald was committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Hamilton.